Just 24 hours before the start of the 2017-2018 Volvo Ocean Race, elite sailor Simeon Tienpont was informed that he had been sacked as skipper. The reason? Tienpont had allegedly breached his contract. In this episode of Achieve the Impossible, Tienpont shares how he regained his position and his team through a legal and mental battle. What can leaders and their teams learn from Simeon Tienpont and his experiences? We have outlined a few key lessons for you.
Watch the whole episode on YouTube or listen to it in your favorite podcast app, like Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Tienpont’s lessons in leadership
Make yourself replaceable – One of the greatest lessons for Tienpont is that a leader must make themselves replaceable. In an ideal team, the leader is merely a spectator. The team is capable of acting independently whenever unexpected “hurdles in the road” appear.
Visualize not just the win, but also the loss – While elite athletes often visualize victory, Tienpont argues that it is more effective to visualize the pain of loss and uncomfortable scenarios. By mentally ploughing through the “pain” of potential failures, you can better anticipate and act more effectively in crisis situations.
Situational vs. strategic leadership – A leader must find a balance between standing on the front line (operations) and zooming out for a strategic overview. During the crisis, Tienpont had to shift his focus. Whereas he would normally spend 75% of his time on technical performance, he now had to use 50% of his time to “keep the pieces together” and create balance.
Tienpont’s view on team development
Connect strong egos to a shared goal – In elite sports, you often work with big, egocentric characters. The leader’s task is to connect these individuals to a common mission in which they recognize their own dreams.
Create autonomous teams – Tienpont refers to the concept of “Teams of Teams”, where teams have the freedom and intention to act independently without being dependent on the leader for every decision.
Interdependence and safety – Unlike in other sports, you cannot “walk off the field” at sea when you are disappointed. This forces a team to have a deep respect for each other’s role and functioning, as everyone’s safety and survival depend on one another.
A holistic approach to performance – Team development goes beyond just the crew; it also involves engaging external experts (such as scientists from TU Delft or Erasmus University) to integrate data on boat performance and human endurance.
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